Resilient driving mechanism



m 1946. .F. L. ALBEN 23,30

" RESILIENT DRIVING MECHANISM Filed June 10, 19 45 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES: INVENTOR flan/(l F/be April 30, 1946. F. L. ALBEN RESILIENT DRIVING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR /70/) L. /7/ber7 Filed June 10, 1945 WITNESSES:

Patented Apr. 30, 1946 RESILIENT DRIVING MECHANISM Frank L. Alben, Pittsburgh, Pa, minor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of lPivania Application June 10, 1943, Series 1N0. 490,311

(or. e4-27) 5 Claims.

My invention relates, generally, to resilient driving mechanisms and, more particularly, to mechanisms suitable for driving locomotives having a relatively large horsepower.

The utilization of a steam turbine for driving a locomotive results in a saving in fuel and water and at the same time increases the horsepower output without exceeding the present rail weight limits. At the present time, turbine-driven locomotives are being designed which will develop from 5 to thousand horsepower and will operate at speeds up to 120 M. P. H. A locomotive of this type requires a resilient drive capable of transmitting more horsepower than the maximum capacity of drives previously available.

An object of my invention, generall stated, is to provide a resilient driving mechanism which shall be simple and efiicient in operation and which may be economically manufactured and installed.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a resilient driving mechanism which shall be capable of transmitting a relatively large amount of power.

Another object of my invention is to provide a resilient driving mechanism having a relatively large amount of torsional flexibility.

A further object of my invention is to provide a resilient driving mechanism which permits a relatively largeamount oi misalignment between 3: driving and driven elements of the mecha- Still another object of my invention is to provide a resilient driving mechanism which can b'e mounted directly on the axle of a locomotive or other vehicle.

Other objects of my invention will be explained fully hereinafter or will be apparent to those smlled in the art.

In accordance with my invention, the spider of a multi-spring cup drive is mounted directly on an axle of a locomotive and the spring cups are remcvably disposed in a gear rim center which surrounds the axle and encloses the hub of the spider. The gear rim center is rotatabiy mounted in a gear casing which encloses the entire drive. Sumcient clearance is provided between the gear rim center and the axle to permit misalignment oi the axle, thereby functioning in a manner similar to a quill drive.

For a fuller understanding of thenature and scope of my invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjurnicigon with the accompanying drawings, in w Figure 1' is a view partially in section and partialiy in elevation of a resilient drive embodying my invention, the section being taken along the line II of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 2 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, locomotive wheels iii are secured to an axle it which is driven by a resilient driving mechanism comprising a spider hub i2 secured to the axle ii and having a plurality of radially extending arms l3, and a gear rim center it which surrounds the axle ii and is spaced therefrom. The gear rim cente it is provided with a hollow central portion for receiving the spider hub l2 and has a plurality of radially extending brackets i5 which are disposed between the arms it of the spider hub 02. A cover plate It is remova'bly attached to the gear rim center it by means of a plurality of stud bolts it.

In order to transmit torque resiliently between the gear-rim center it and the spider hub l2, a plurality of helical springs 23 is disposed in each one of the brackets it to engage a pair of arms it on the spider hub it. As shown more clearly in Fig. 2, eachone of the springs 23 is retained in position by two cup-like members it which are provided with flanges 25 at their inner edges. shouldered retaining bushings 26 are provided for slidably supporting the spring cups 2 3 and ar e so disposed within the bracket It as to prevent the springs cups from being forced out of the bracket. The cups 2 3 and the bushings 2b are retained in the bracket by caps 27 which are removably secured to the bracket by a plurality of bolts 28 and 2t.

A gear rim 3!, having a plurality of teeth 32 thereon, is removably secured to the gear rim center it by means oi the caps 217 and the bolts 29.

As shown, the bolts 2% are so disposed on the dividing line between the brackets it on the gear toms of the cups 2. In this manner, torque may be transmitted in either direction between the gear rim center, and the spider hub which, as explained hereinbefore, is secured to the axle II. The gear rim center may be driven by a suitable pinion (not shown) which engages the teeth 32 of the gear rim 3i.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that, in view of the clearance provided between the gear rim center It and the axle H, a predetermined amount of misalignment between the driving and the driven elements of the mechanism may take place without interfering with the operation of the driving mechanism. Thus, if one wheel should pass over a low spot in the track, thereby causing one end of the axle ii to drop, the driving mechanism continues to function in its normal manner. In this manner a quill, usually provided in similar drives, is not required, thereby materially simplifying the present structure as compared with previously known drives.

Furthermore, the space required for the driving mechanism is materially reduced since the spider hub is disposed inside of the gear rim center and not alongside of the center, as in previous structures. As explained hereinbefore, the present driving mechanism may be readily enclosed by a gear case, which is an additional advantage of the present structure. In view of the compactness of the present mechanism, it may be mounted on a locomotive axle between Journal bearings 34, thereby making it suitable for turbine-dri'ven locomotives wherein the drivinggears are located inside of the locomotive frame. The oil seals 35, herein illustrated, form no part of the present invention and are fully described and claimed in a copending application.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that I have provided a resilient driving mechanism which is capable of transmitting a relatively large amount of power and which requires a relatively small amount of space. Furthermore,

I the present mechanism may be mounted directly on the axle of a locomotive or other vehicle and permits a relatively large amount of misalignment of the axle without interfering with the operation of the mechanism or causing excessive wear on the parts of the mechanism.

Since numerous changes may be made in the above described construction and different emtending arms, a gear rim center surrounding the shaft and enclosing said hub, a cover removably secured to one side of the gear rim center, said I gear rim center having a plurality of circumferentially disposed radially outwardly extending brackets disposed between the arms on said hub, a resilient member disposed in each of said brackets outside of said cover for engaging said arms, a gear rim removably attachedto said brackets,

and means for rotatablgsupporting said gear rim center.

2. In a resilient driving mechanism, in com-' bination, a rotatable shaft, a hub secured to the shaft, said hub having a plurality of radially extending arms, a gear rim center surrounding the shaft and enclosing said hub, a cover removably secured to one side f the gear. rim center, said gear rim center having a plurality of circumferentially disposed radially outwardly extending brackets disposed between the arms on said hub, a resilient member disposed in each of said brackets outside of said cover for engaging said arms, a gear rim removably attached to said brackets, and a gear case for rotatably supporting said gear rim center, said gear case enclosing said gear hub and said gear rim center and said gear rim.

3. In a resilient driving mechanism, in combination, a rotatable shaft, a hub secured to the shaft, said hub having a plurality of radially extending arms, a gear rim center surrounding the shaft and spaced therefrom, said gear rim center having a plurality of radially extending brackets disposed between the arms on said hub, a plurality of resilient members disposed in each of said brackets for engaging said arms, cup means slldably disposed in said brackets for individually retaining said resilient members in said brackets, a gear rim removably attached to said brackets, andmeans for jointly retaining said cup means and said gear rim in position! 4. In a resilient driving. mechanism, in combination, a rotatable shaft, a gear rim center surrounding the shaft and spaced therefrom, said gear rim center having a hollow center portion and a plurality of brackets extending radially therefrom, a hub secured to the shaft and disposed in the hollow portion of the gear rim center, saidhub havinga plurality of radially extending arms disposed between the brackets on the gear rim center, a plurality of resilient members removably disposed in each of said brackets for engaging said arms, cup members slldably disposed in said brackets for retaining said resilient members in said brackets, a gear rim removably attached to said brackets, and means for jointly retaining said cup members and said gear rim in position.

5. In a resilient driving mechanism, in combination, a rotatable shaft, a gear rim center surrounding the shaft and spaced therefrom, said gear rim center having a hollow center portion and a plurality of brackets extending radially therefrom, a hub secured to the shaft and disposed in the hollow portion of the gear rim center, a cover removably secured to one side of the gear rim center to enclose the gear hub, said hub having a plurality of radially extending arms disposed between the brackets on the gear rimcenter, a plurality of resilient members removably disposed in each of said brackets for engaging said arms, cup members slldably disposed in said brackets for retaining said resilient members in said brackets, a gear rim removably attached to said brackets, and means for jointly retaining said cu members and said gear rim in position.

FRANK L ALBEN. 

